Walker backing Scenic to make Bronte frame

Scenic returns to the scene of her finest hour aiming to continue Ed Walker’s fine run of form in York’s William Hill Bronte Cup Fillies’ Stakes.

The five-year-old landed the Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes on the Knavesmire last August and now seeks her first victory at group level, returning to further after finishing an honourable second to John and Thady Gosden’s Shaha at Goodwood on reappearance.

“It has been the plan to run in this race all year and we decided to give her a run at Goodwood where she was second behind an unexposed horse who runs in the Group race at Haydock on Saturday,” said Walker.

“I think she will improve for that run and is in good nick, but whether she truly stays would be the only kind of concern. She ran well at Doncaster in the Park Hill over that trip on bad ground and on better ground on Saturday, I hope she can run a big race.”

It is the Gosden team who are out to thwart Scenic once again, with the Clarehaven operation double handed in the Group Three contest.

The George Strawbridge-owned Sueno was fourth behind both stablemate Shaha and Scenic at Goodwood, but is backed to thrive over the extra distance on the Knavesmire.

“She travelled well at Goodwood and shaped like this trip would suit her well, so we thought the Bronte Cup would be the right spot for her for her next race,” said Thady Gosden.

“She’s been in good order since Goodwood and we’ll learn a lot from the race.”

The Gosdens also saddle Anthony Oppenheimer’s Jane Temple, who has shown good ability in three starts and obliged favourite backers with ease when reappearing at Kempton earlier this month.

Gosden added: “Jane Temple is still lightly raced but she won carrying plenty of weight last time at Kempton and won very well and it looks the right time and right spot to try her at a higher level.”

Defending champion Term Of Endearment has switched to William Haggas since last year’s triumph and makes just her second start for the Somerville Lodge handler, while Andrew Balding’s Divina Grace will not lack for match practice after banking two starts and a win already this term.

Ralph Beckett’s Allonsy, fifth in the aforementioned Goodwood race, and Tom Ward’s recent Southwell handicap winner Crystal Flyer complete the select line-up for Saturday’s feature event in Yorkshire.